N.B. elementary school dealing with mouse infestation

Staff at a New Brunswick elementary school are dealing with a mouse infestation.

The superintendent for the Anglophone South School District says they started to notice the pesky rodents at Quispamsis Elementary school earlier this fall.

Zoe Watson says a local pest control company is working to solve the issue, which has become problematic in some areas of the school.

Many parents said they weren’t aware of the issue as they picked their children up from school Monday.

“I’m kind of shocked, really,” said parent Lena Fudge. “They are usually really good about sending notices home and give us FYIs on the phone every night at five o’clock usually, so I’m kind of surprised.”

Greg Flynn works in pest control in Saint John. He says it’s not uncommon for mice to find a warm spot for the winter as temperatures drop.

“The numbers increase a little bit in the fall. Their food source dries up a bit,” says Flynn.

“They start looking for more food. They start running around, people see them more often. It’s a little colder outside, so you get more inside than normal.”

School district officials say pest control was at the school on the weekend to set traps and the issue will be reassessed in a few days.

Watson says the school is working with WorkSafe NB and the Department of Health to make sure the issue doesn’t pose a health risk to staff or students.

However, some parents are expressing concerns about the risks mice and their droppings can bring.